Sins of the Tongue

Do not go about spreading slander among your people.  Lev. 19:16

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?  Who may live on your holy hill?  He whose walk is blameless, and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong, and cast no slur on his fellowman,…Psalm 15:1-3

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Ephesians 4:29

Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.  Proverbs 26:20

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brother, this should not be.  James 3:5-10

There is nothing I can add to what God has told us about how we should or shouldn’t use our speech, except to say be careful what you say.  We are all guilty of gossip, lying, and unwholesome talk.  If we think not, we fool ourselves.  May God help us to use our speech for his glory.

Don’t grumble against each other, brother, or you will be judged.  THE JUDGE IS STANDING AT THE DOOR.  James 5:9